Cadillac ATS Picture and Appearance Forum Discussion, HID & LED Headlights in Cadillac ATS Discussion Forums; i was able to install my aftermarket hid kit thanks to Blue_Skies he send me instructions but i did not ...

Re: HID & LED Headlights

i was able to install my aftermarket hid kit thanks to Blue_Skies he send me instructions but i did not take the bumper off did it from the wheel well behid the headlight its tight there but duable. The results are amazing. I will take pictures later on when it gets dark. no need to spend extra money just purchase a good hid kit 6000k bulbs and anti flikker resisters. I bought mine from DDM tunning they are really good

i was able to install my aftermarket hid kit thanks to Blue_Skies he send me instructions but i did not take the bumper off did it from the wheel well behid the headlight its tight there but duable. The results are amazing. I will take pictures later on when it gets dark. no need to spend extra money just purchase a good hid kit 6000k bulbs and anti flikker resisters. I bought mine from DDM tunning they are really good

Re: HID & LED Headlights

Hey, romanats, I know that I PM'd you for a description of just how you got to do the job without removing the bumper and how you did the hookups, but I think it would be awfully helpful to the forum members (at least those who are into doable mods), if you could do the write-up in this thread...or maybe just start a new thread with the DIY. BTW, I don't mean to cause any extra work for you, just thought it would be nice to suggest that you share your knowledge with the rest of us.

Re: HID & LED Headlights

Originally Posted by romanats

you are talking at least 2K project are you willing to spend that kind of money ?

had my car not been a lease, i would actually strongly consider it.....but that is extremely disapointing news. is it because of the wiring only? the stock led headlight wont fit? cuz if it fits, i guess you could do some wire splicing and get the DRL to run the LEDs and fogs.

Re: HID & LED Headlights

Originally Posted by donavo

had my car not been a lease, i would actually strongly consider it.....but that is extremely disapointing news. is it because of the wiring only? the stock led headlight wont fit? cuz if it fits, i guess you could do some wire splicing and get the DRL to run the LEDs and fogs.

One issue is that the 2013 HID headlights are adaptive (motorized to turn with the steering wheel). And every time you start the car after dusk, they go thru a calibration dance that seems to include leveling them. That's why my wife named the car "crosseyed terminator". Unless all that is completely self contained (i.e. not talking to some other component of the car) there might not be a way to keep the premium/performance HIDs aimed straight in a base or Luxury.

The good news is the 2014s apparently have an option for HIDs in a Luxury. If that also includes the LEDs (highly likely) but not the adaptive stuff it may mean it will be easier/cheaper to retrofit a 2013 with HID/LEDs.

Re: HID & LED Headlights

Originally Posted by Hoosier Daddy

One issue is that the 2013 HID headlights are adaptive (motorized to turn with the steering wheel). And every time you start the car after dusk, they go thru a calibration dance that seems to include leveling them. That's why my wife named the car "crosseyed terminator". Unless all that is completely self contained (i.e. not talking to some other component of the car) there might not be a way to keep the premium/performance HIDs aimed straight in a base or Luxury.

The good news is the 2014s apparently have an option for HIDs in a Luxury. If that also includes the LEDs (highly likely) but not the adaptive stuff it may mean it will be easier/cheaper to retrofit a 2013 with HID/LEDs.

you dont think theres a way to "freeze" the adaptive feature and bypass all that? splice the cables to power only? i have no idea how this stuff works, im just trying to find a work around.

Re: HID & LED Headlights

you dont think theres a way to "freeze" the adaptive feature and bypass all that? splice the cables to power only? i have no idea how this stuff works, im just trying to find a work around.

Anything is possible, but my guess is the headlights would 'freak out' and point in some limp home default position and try to tell the car that they're broken.

And Hoosier is partially correct about the adaptive headlights, they do not move with the steering wheel, you can test this by keeping the car at a standstill and turning the wheel, they will not move. The headlights are a little more sophisticated in that they communicate with the vehicle and are pointed at the vehicles calculated trajectory, based on steering angle, vehicle speed and yaw rate. This can be tested by rolling 5-10 MPH and rapidly turning the wheel back and forth, you'll notice that where the light is pointed is out of sync with the wheel movement, but instead is in sync with the calculated trajectory that speed and wheel angle will produce. You'll also notice if you stop moving the wheel at a left or right angle the light snaps to where your headed. One more thing to note is that the beam is not as much pointed as it is shaped, the system will move the individual lenses independently and more outward than inward, it kinda looks like your beam pattern is being stretched toward the direction your turning.